Manufacturing Engineering Intern

About Capella an IonQ company

Capella an IonQ company builds trusted space systems that deliver secure rapid and actionable Earth intelligence to amplify decision-making for allied partners. As the first U.S. company to launch and operate a commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) constellation Capella provides precise high-resolution radar imagery in any conditionday or night through clouds smoke and darkness. Capella is defining the future of space-based intelligence through a vertically integrated approach that spans spacecraft design advanced radar payloads manufacturing automated tasking and low-latency delivery of mission-ready data. Capella designs for the realities of modern defense and intelligence: speed sovereignty and resilience. Powered by IonQ Capella is creating the worlds first quantum-enabled Earth observation networktransforming how intelligence is delivered through innovation speed and trust. This next-generation architecture will provide governments and global partners with a decisive edge: the ability to see decide and act with confidence in any environment.

What Makes Capella Unique

Capella an IonQ company spans national security advanced sensing and next-generation compute to deliver secure mission-ready intelligence. Capellas culture is built on collaboration rigorous engineering and a shared commitment to delivering solutions that strengthens global stability and security. Team members work side-by-side with some of the most innovative minds in space systems quantum-enabled technologies and mission-critical operations. Capella values curiosity resilience and a willingness to tackle hard problems with precision and creativity. Capella welcomes and encourages applicants whose perspectives are historically underrepresented in technology national security and aerospace. No prior space experience is required. Diverse viewpoints strengthen Capellas ability to innovate and to deliver meaningful impact for partners worldwide.

Capella Internship Program

Capellas 10-week in-person internship program (June 8August 14 2026) gives students hands-on experience in spacecraft development operations and geospatial technology. Interns work directly on meaningful projects while building technical skills industry insight and professional connections. The program includes mentorship team engagement and social events that support a balanced and collaborative experience. A stipend is provided to help with living expenses.

About the Role

Capella is looking for a Manufacturing Engineering Intern to support the development and improvement of our satellite production this role youll work closely with experienced manufacturing design and production engineers to help streamline workflows support new product introduction activities and contribute to continuous improvement projects.

This internship offers hands-on exposure to satellite manufacturing operations production line development documentation tooling and process improvement in a fast-paced and highly collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist manufacturing engineers in developing and documenting production processes used to build satellite components and assemblies.
• Support efforts to improve manufacturability by reviewing build instructions tooling needs and production workflows.
• Help maintain and update manufacturing documentation including work instructions process maps and standard operating procedures.
• Participate in new product introduction (NPI) activities by helping validate build processes collecting feedback from technicians and assisting with early-stage process trials.
• Assist with data collection and organization to support production tracking and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Help with layout reviews workflow observations and equipment/tooling organization to improve efficiency on the production floor.
• Participate in projects involving lean manufacturing waste reduction cycle-time improvement and quality optimization.
• Work with cross-functional teamsincluding Production Quality Supply Chain and Design Engineeringto support day-to-day manufacturing activities.
• Assist in identifying production bottlenecks and proposing small-scale improvements under the guidance of senior engineers.

Qualifications

• Actively pursuing a Bachelors degree in Manufacturing Engineering Mechanical Engineering Industrial Engineering Aerospace Engineering or a related field.
• Interest in manufacturing processes production systems and hardware development.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to collaborate within cross-functional teams.
• Good communication and organizational skills.
• Enthusiasm for learning in a fast-paced environment.
• Currently attending a degree program and available to work full time for 10 weeks outside of university term time.
• In their penultimate academic year or returning to a degree program after completion of the internship.
• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) Capella Employees must be a U.S. citizen lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder) or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce as applicable. Learn more about ITARhere.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to lean manufacturing concepts through coursework or projects.
• Familiarity with CAD tools (SolidWorks or similar).
• Experience with process documentation or technical writing.
• Interest in automation tooling or advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Basic understanding of data analysis or manufacturing metrics.

Compensation

• This internship will be a 40-hour a week commitment at the pay of $37per hour. An allowance will also be provided to support living costs throughout the program.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Capella an IonQ company is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and upholding equitable hiring practices.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability protected veteran status or any other characteristic under federal state or local law including those with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities women Veterans and those with disabilities to apply and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. If you need assistance or require an accommodation during the job application process please notify

To learn more about us explore our site: and follow us on X and LinkedIn to see our SAR imagery!